Ashley Fox shares a memorable moment from community college, when a travel nebulizer sparked an unexpected question about vaping. She reflects on visibility, curiosity, and why she’d rather educate others about SMA than be met with silence or stares.
Transcript
I’m always the person who’d rather you ask questions than just stare at me.
I just remember this one time in community college, I was sick, and I had my little travel nebulizer. And I was sitting in the quad, and this guy came up to me.
And I think he was actually trying to be genuine and nice. He was like, “Yo, you vape?” And I was like, “No, no, I don’t.” And he goes, “Oh, is that for asthma?” And I was like, “Sure. Yeah. Kind of.”
I feel like I’d rather people just come up to me and ask, like, “Hey, I’m noticing you’re using this. Can I ask what it’s for?” I’m always the person who I’d rather you ask questions than just stare at me.
But I know some people aren’t necessarily that way. But I’m all for answering questions — even the really out-of-pocket ones — because that’s just a chance for me to help educate you. Because chances are, you don’t know. And that’s OK.
